collateral damage

noun

: injury inflicted on something other than an intended target
specifically : civilian casualties of a military operation

Examples of collateral damage in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
From book bans to budget cuts, from anti-DEI policies to culture war campaigns, the targets may be political, but the collateral damage is generational. Richard Fowler, Forbes.com, 19 May 2025 But the collateral damage of this popular form of entertainment doesn’t end there. John J. Lennon, Vulture, 30 Apr. 2025 While this hardly stopped Combs’s momentum, this event can be viewed as a part of a pattern of collateral damage that Diddy was willing to leave behind on his path to industry dominance. Kyndall Cunningham, Vox, 12 May 2025 This sets Ellie on a revenge quest against Abby, one where the rest of her crew are collateral damage that Ellie has no problem eliminating. Lissete Lanuza Sáenz, StyleCaster, 12 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for collateral damage

Word History

First Known Use

1947, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of collateral damage was in 1947

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Cite this Entry

“Collateral damage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/collateral%20damage. Accessed 29 May. 2025.

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